(NC) Car theft is on the rise and costs Canadians more than $1 billion annually.
Car thieves are prioritizing easy marks – convenient, low-risk opportunities to steal. By making it inconvenient, you can protect yourself against vehicle theft. Here are 10 simple precautions recommended by Co-operators to help ensure your vehicle is waiting for you when you step outside.
- Make sure your vehicle isn’t left running unattended, even for just a few minutes.
- Make sure to lock your vehicle and close the windows.
- Keep your keys or keyless fob away from doors and windows. If your car has a keyless ignition, use a Faraday bag that blocks the signal from your key fob and prevents it from being hacked by thieves to gain entry to your vehicle.
- Use after-market deterrents such as steering-wheel or brake-pedal locks, or alarm systems.
- Add a vehicle tracking device.
- Talk to your mechanic about installing an immobilizing device to prevent hotwiring.
- Park in well-lit, populated areas or in secured garages.
- Don’t keep personal identification or valuables in your vehicle. Ensure your possessions are stowed out of sight and in your trunk if you are away from home.
- Before purchasing a vehicle, do some research and request all required documentation from the seller. If a deal feels too good to be true, be sure to listen to your instincts. Wait to get the verification you need before proceeding.
- To avoid theft while selling your vehicle, ensure you meet in a safe, well-lit, third-party location such as a busy parking lot or outside your local police precinct. When it’s time to receive payment, do so at a physical bank so you can verify the payment method used.
Find more information about car theft prevention through your insurance advisor or at cooperators.ca. Depending on what vehicle you drive, and what theft prevention steps you take, you might even be able to secure a discount on your premiums.
